Starting device for automobile-engines.



s. B. SPENCER. STARTING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE ENGINES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1,

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Fig. 1

' SAMUEL ENIS SPENCER, OF SPRINGVILLE, NEW YORK.

STARTING DEVICE AUTOMOBILE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed liarch l, 1907. Serial No. 360,071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL Ems SPEN- cnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springville, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Starting Devices for Automobile-Engines, of which the 'followingis a specification.

This invention relates to an improved starting device for automobiles which is permanently attached to the car and is provided with a shaft which may be connectedto the engine of the automobile to start the same or may be utilized for the purpose of transmitting power to any desired attachment such as an air pump when the engine is running. V I

- The main object of the invention aside from the starting of the engine is to provide for sufliciently disconnecting the crank handle from the shaft of the starting device to permit it to remain stationary when the shaft is employed. as an intermediate connection between the engine shaft and the device to which power is transmitted.

The invention also relates to certain novel details of construction of the startin device, all of which will be fully and clear y hereinafter described and claimed reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

' which,-

Figure l is a plan view of the front end of an automobile of conventional type equipped with the improved starting device, the bonnet being removed and a portion .of the automobile frame and mechanism broken away to more fully disclose the improved'device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the improved starter, together with a fragment of the shaft of the engine and a section through the supporting bracket and the sleeve; the shaft of the starter being shown disconnected from the engine, arid 'the crank disconnected from theshaft of the starting device. Fig. 3 is a view similar ,to Fig. 2 with the shaft of the starter connected to the engine shaft and the crank connectedto the shaft of the sta'rter and, in. position to be turned to start the engine. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs- 2 and 3, with the shaft of the starter connected to the engine and in position to transmit power, and the crank disconnected from the starter shaft to remainstationary, also showing a fragment of a'devioe to which power is to be transmitted.

and includes a frame 1, front axle 2, wheels 3 and'engine 4 having some of its cylinders -.removed to expose the engine crank shaft 5.

The improved-starter comprises a shaft 6,

having a clutch member 7 mounted at its inner end which is adapted to engage with aclutch member 8, at the forward extremity of the engine shaft 5, and a crank 9, which is slidably and rotatably fitted on the forward end of the shaft 6, andhas a ratchet or one way clutch member 10,,adapted to en'- gage with a ratchet or one wayclutch ring .11, mounted on the shaft 6, near its forward end see Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The shaft 6 is slidably and rotatably supported by a bracket 12 depending from the frame 1,,to which it is attached by rivets 13. An inclosing sleeve 14 is fitted loosely around the ratchet clutch members 10 and 11, and has an inwardly extending annular flange 15, at its rear end which fits loosely around the starter shaft. A spiral spring 16 is fitted loosely around. the shaft of the starter with its endsbearing respectively against the flange 15, and the I forward end of'the bracket 12. This spring serves to force the sleeve 14, forward and the sleeve in turn bears at its forward end against the shoulder 17 on the crank 9,

pressing the crank together with the starter shaft forward sufficiently to'disconnec't the crank from the starter shaft and the starter shaft from the engine shaft. It will thus be seen that the spring 16 serves the double function of normally maintaining the crank and the starter shaft in an inoperative dis- I connected posit-ion both with respect to each other. The crank is heldagainst displacement from the starter shaft 6 by a nut 18,- screwed upon the outer end of the starter shaft, see Fig. 6. The outer extremity of the starter shaft 6, has a deep longitudinal 'recess -or socket 19, formed therein, into which an instrument may be" inserted to which it is desired to transmit motion.

This recess orsocket 19 is preferably made square in cross section as shown in Figs. 6

and 7. By means of this improved starting device, motion can be transmitted to any mstrument such as, for instance, a pump 20, for inflating the tires of the automobile as shown in Fig. l. The pump 20, has a shaft provided with a square projecting portion 21, of approximately the same size as the re cess or socket 19, and which is inserted into.

.said' recess or socket-when it is desired to.

operate the pump, see Figs. 1 and 4. I

The operation of this im roved-starting device is-as fol1ows,- -N orma y, the starting device is in the position shown in Fig. 2,"

with the clutch members 7 and 8, and 10 and 11, disconnected. When it is desired to start the engine of the automobile the. operator pushes the crank 9, inwardly against the tension' of the spring 16, thereby bringing the clutch member 10, into engagement with the clutch inember l1. When these clutch members are in engagement, the starter shaft 9 is carried back against the tension-of the spring until the clutch members 7 and 8 are in engagement.- The device is now in the 4 shaft tending to force them apart. This manner. By referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that owing to the form of the clutching faces of the clutch members 10 and 11, they" will be instantly disengaged when. the en.- gine 'is started, the impulseof the engine separating movement is assisted by the spiral spring 16, which also withdraws the starter s aft 6, and disengages the clutch members 7 and 8. Whenthe engine is operating and .it is desired to attach an instrument, as in the present instance the pump 20, shown in Fig. 1 for inflating the tires, the operator grasps the .p'ump by the handles 23, inserts the end of the square shaft 21 into'the recess 19 in the. starter shaft and pushes inwardly against the tension of the spring 16,'unt1l the clutch member 7 on the inner end of the starter shaft engages with the clutch mem her 8 on the engine shaft 5. This rotates the starter shaft 9 and the shaft 21 of the ump, thereby operatin the pump. By reerring to Fig. 4, it 'wi be seen that during this operation the sleeve 14, acting in conjunction wlth the spring 16, maintains the clutch member 10 on the crank 9', out-ofengagement with the clutch member ll'on the starter shaft, so that the crank remains in its normally inoperative position. When it is desired to- 'stop the pump, the operator with- I draws the square shaft 21 from the socket 19, which permits the spring 16 to disengage the clutch members 7 and 8. I claim as my invention 1. The combination with an automobile body and an engineyof a starting'device for attached to the automobile body and having a shaft normally disconnected from the en-. gine shaft and a crank normally disconnected from the starting shaft; means where-- by the crank and shaft of the starting deposition to start the engine and means whereby the shaft of. the starting device is adapted-t0 be independently connected to -the engine shaft ,in position to transmit power while thecr-ank remains stationary. 2. The combination with an automobile body and an engine, ofa starting device for the engine of said automobile permanently attached to. the automobile body and having the engine shaft and astarting crank slidably mounted on the startin shaft, means ada ted to maintain the starting crank normeans whereby the crank and shaft of the starting device are adapted to be manually connected to each other and to the engine shaft in position to start the engine, and means whereby the shaft of the'sta'rting device is ada' ted to be independently connected to t e engine shaft in" position to transmit power while the crank remains stationary.

3. The combination with an automobile startingshaft normally disconnected from ably mounted on the starting shaft, means mal y disconnected from the starting shaft, a clutch member on the starting crank, a clutch'member on the starting shaft adapted to be engaged with the clutch. member of the crank when said crank is in one position and means whereby the starting shaft ,is-operatively. connected to the engine shaft.

'4. The combination with an engine and its shaft, of a starting device for said en gine, comprising a starting. shaft; means whereby thestarting shaft 1s adapted to be engaged with the engine shaft to start the engine and also to serve to transmit power, a startin crank slidably'mounted on the starting s aft, a clutch member'carried by the starting crank, a clutch member on the starting shaft adapted to be engaged with the clutch member-of the starting crank to connect the crank to the starting shaft, an inclosing sleeve ,loosely fitting around the vice are adapted to be manually connected to each other and to the engine shaft in,

body and an engine having a shaft, of a' starting device for said en me permanently attached to the automob' e and having a" adapted to maintain the starting crank northe engine of said automobile permanently I a starting shaft normally disconnected from mal y disconnected from the starting shaft;

the engineshaft and a starting crank slidclutch members and a spring for maintaining the starting shaft normally disconnected from the engine shaft and the starting for normally maintaining the crank in dising shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with an engine and its shaft, of a starting-device therefor .hav-

ing a shaft, means whereby said starting shaft is adapted to be connected to the shaft of the engine to start saidengine and also to serve a starting crank slidably mounted on the starting shaft and having a clutch member and a clutch member on the starting shaft adapted to be engaged with the clutch member of the crank. when said crank is in one position and disengaged therefrom when said crank is in another position and a spring for normally maintaining the crank in disengaged position.

6. The combination with an engine and its shaft, of a starting device therefor having a shaft, means whereby said starting shaft is adapted to be connected to the shaft of the engine to start said engine and also to serve as a power transmitting device, a starting. crank slidably mounted on the startas a power transmitting device and suitable device such ing shaft and having a clutch member and. a clutch member on the starting shaft adapted to be engaged with the clutch member of the era when said crank is in one'position and disengaged therefrom when said crank is in another position and spring means for normally maintaining both the starting shaft and starting crank in disengaged position, substantially as set forth. v v

7. The combination with an engine and its shaft, of a starter therefor having a shaft adapted to be connected with the engine shaftto start said engine, means whereby said starting shaft may also serve as a power transmitting element to operate a as an air pump, and a crank slidably mounted on the starter shaft and adapted to be connected to the said shaft to turn the same to start the engine and disconnected therefrom to remain stationarywhen the starter shaft is transmit-- ting power, substantially as set forth.

SAMUEL EN IS SPENCER.

' Witnesses:

L. M. SANGs'rER, GEORGE A. NEUBAUER. 

